Last Modified: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 8:50 p.m.

In the wake of the horrific Newtown, Conn., school shooting, elected officials and policymakers around the country are considering new strategies for dealing with mental illness. There seems to be a growing movement to increase funding for mental health care — especially long-term care for those who may be suffering because of well-intended policies aimed at keeping people out of state institutions.

The vast majority of Americans with mental illness are not prone to violence or criminal acts. It's clear, however, that mental problems affected some of the perpetrators of mass shootings, such as the Aurora, Colo., theater massacre and the Tuscon, Ariz., shooting that left six dead and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords seriously wounded. This fact is driving a search for better methods of identifying and treating people who pose a danger to themselves or others.

Funding for all mental health services is getting a second look. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, for instance, has introduced a plan to substantially increase funding for his state's mental health system. Advocates for the mentally ill are applauding Walker's proposal, which focuses on services for children with behavioral health issues and centers that provide emergency care to adults.

It's unfortunate that Rick Scott is not taking a page from his conservative Republican counterpart in Wisconsin. Scott's budget includes proposed funding increases in a number of areas, but leaves mental health funding level. That could mean that Florida will continue what one mental health care advocate called its “race to the bottom” in funding for mental health services.

Pattie Hunt, a member of the Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told The News-Journal: “They seem to take pride in cutting funding for mental health because it's not popular, and no wants to talk about it. Our jails have become our mental health centers.”

The sad truth is that jails and prisons in Florida and other states house inmates who might have been institutionalized or treated in community centers if state policies and funding reflected the reality of mental illness. Policies designed to treat the mentally ill in the least restrictive setting have sometimes turned into indifference and neglect — and homelessness or imprisonment for those overwhelmed by emotional problems.

Florida ranks 48th in funding for mental health services. The state is far below the national average in funding per person — $39 versus $120.

As a result, Florida doesn't have enough residential treatment centers. This means many mentally ill patients wait for months to get treatment they desperately need. Community-based services also have been curtailed in the wake of state funding cuts.

The governor's budget has more money for acquiring environmentally sensitive land, transportation projects and ports, education — and the list goes on. Overall, Scott wants to increase state spending by $4 billion.

If he had done a better job of prioritizing his “wish list,” mental health funding would have been near the top. Florida should reverse its history of underfunding mental health care, and with the economic outlook improving, this is a good year to start.

Scott should rethink his position on mental-health funding, and then join with key lawmakers in developing a plan to improve services for some of the state's most vulnerable citizens. An investment in the mental health system likely will pay off in lower prison costs and a reduction in costs associated with crime, homelessness and lost productivity in the workplace.

Perhaps the governor can give Scott Walker a call and find out why a conservative Republican should get behind this funding crusade.

<p>It's disappointing that Gov. Rick Scott's proposed budget does not respond to a serious and possibly dangerous weakness in Florida's health care system: severely underfunded mental health services. </p><p> In the wake of the horrific Newtown, Conn., school shooting, elected officials and policymakers around the country are considering new strategies for dealing with mental illness. There seems to be a growing movement to increase funding for mental health care — especially long-term care for those who may be suffering because of well-intended policies aimed at keeping people out of state institutions. </p><p> The vast majority of Americans with mental illness are not prone to violence or criminal acts. It's clear, however, that mental problems affected some of the perpetrators of mass shootings, such as the Aurora, Colo., theater massacre and the Tuscon, Ariz., shooting that left six dead and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords seriously wounded. This fact is driving a search for better methods of identifying and treating people who pose a danger to themselves or others. </p><p> Funding for all mental health services is getting a second look. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, for instance, has introduced a plan to substantially increase funding for his state's mental health system. Advocates for the mentally ill are applauding Walker's proposal, which focuses on services for children with behavioral health issues and centers that provide emergency care to adults. </p><p> It's unfortunate that Rick Scott is not taking a page from his conservative Republican counterpart in Wisconsin. Scott's budget includes proposed funding increases in a number of areas, but leaves mental health funding level. That could mean that Florida will continue what one mental health care advocate called its “race to the bottom” in funding for mental health services. </p><p> Pattie Hunt, a member of the Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told The News-Journal: “They seem to take pride in cutting funding for mental health because it's not popular, and no wants to talk about it. Our jails have become our mental health centers.” </p><p> The sad truth is that jails and prisons in Florida and other states house inmates who might have been institutionalized or treated in community centers if state policies and funding reflected the reality of mental illness. Policies designed to treat the mentally ill in the least restrictive setting have sometimes turned into indifference and neglect — and homelessness or imprisonment for those overwhelmed by emotional problems. </p><p> Florida ranks 48th in funding for mental health services. The state is far below the national average in funding per person — $39 versus $120. </p><p> As a result, Florida doesn't have enough residential treatment centers. This means many mentally ill patients wait for months to get treatment they desperately need. Community-based services also have been curtailed in the wake of state funding cuts. </p><p> The governor's budget has more money for acquiring environmentally sensitive land, transportation projects and ports, education — and the list goes on. Overall, Scott wants to increase state spending by $4 billion. </p><p> If he had done a better job of prioritizing his “wish list,” mental health funding would have been near the top. Florida should reverse its history of underfunding mental health care, and with the economic outlook improving, this is a good year to start. </p><p> Scott should rethink his position on mental-health funding, and then join with key lawmakers in developing a plan to improve services for some of the state's most vulnerable citizens. An investment in the mental health system likely will pay off in lower prison costs and a reduction in costs associated with crime, homelessness and lost productivity in the workplace. </p><p> Perhaps the governor can give Scott Walker a call and find out why a conservative Republican should get behind this funding crusade.</p>